Missouri wrestling concludes first day of NCAA wrestling tournament in fifth place

ST. LOUIS – The Missouri Tigers wrestling team stands in fifth place with 20 points after the first day of the 2017 NCAA Division 1 wrestling tournament.

Eight Tigers participated in the tournament on Thursday. Five Missouri wrestlers won their first and second round contests for their respective weight classes, advancing to the tournament quarterfinals on Friday.

J’Den Cox improved to 25-0 in his senior season with a pair of wins. Cox pinned American’s Jeric Kasunic in his first-round, while defeating Navy’s Steban Cervantes by a score of 12-3 in his second-round match up.

Joey Lavallee, Daniel Lewis, Jaydin Eierman and Lavion Mayes also reached the quarterfinals. Lavallee finished both of his match ups with pins, while Lewis earned two shutouts on the day.

The third session of NCAA wrestling tournament resumes on Friday at 10 a.m. The tournament concludes on Saturday, and Missouri could finish with its fourth NCAA top-10 finish in five years by then.